It is also reported that a Mu'tazili called Ibn al-Shaikh al-Basri, while performing the sa'y while on pilgrimage in Mecca, asked Abu Ubaidah, "Are you one who claims that God is disobeyed against His will"53.

It appears that the early Ibadhi authorities regarded the question of 'divine decree' (qadar) as of less importance compared with the attitudes of the Kharijites who brought about serious innovations regarding their relations to the Muslim community, and the tyrant rulers who administered laws other than what is revealed by God.

The Ibadhi authority, Abu Sufyan Mahbub said, "Abu Ubaidah Muslim b. Abi Karima used to weaken the question of 'divine decree' (كان يضعف من أمر القدر), and say, 'By God, it is not like marrying a married woman (captured in wars against fellow Muslims), or regarding migration as an obligatory duty, or ruling by laws other than what is revealed by God. But it is an opinion which was brought about by people, whosoever admitted that God knew of things before they come into existence has acknowledge the 'divine decree'"54.

The other question was the problem of predestination and free will (al-Jabr wa al-ikhtiyar). Ibadhi sources preserved views ascribed to Abu Ubaidah Muslim b. Abi Karima concerning this question. His attitude was not one of a clear acknowledgement of free will or predestination. Abu Sufyan said, "Abu Ubaidah and Ibn al-Shaikh al-Basri met at Mina. Ibn al-Shaikh asked Abu Ubaidah, 'Has God compelled anyone to obedience (ta'ah) or to disobedience (ma'siyah)?' Abu Ubaidah said, 'I do not maintain that God has compelled anyone to obedience or disobedience. If I have to say anything in this matter, I would say that God predestined that the people of piety (taqwa) by greatly frightening and intimidating them.' In another version, "with the great reward He showed to them.' Ibn al-Shaikh said, 'Is it the 'knowledge' of God that led them to act with disobedience?' Abu Ubaidah said, 'God forbid, I did not say so, but their spirits tempted them, and Satan has decked out fair their deeds to them, and so they acted according to what God knew"55.

It is also reported that Abu Ubaidah was asked whether the infidel has the capacity to become a Muslim while he is an infidel? He said, "I do not say that he who can bring a bundle of firewood from a profane territory to a sacred enclave56 cannot pray two rak'as, and I do not say that he is capable of doing so unless he is guided and helped by God"57. Abu Ubaidah's opinion on free will is expressed as follows: "God has ordered people to obedience, He liked it and decked it out. Whosoever acted according to it, that is with the knowledge of God, and He favoured him"58. This opinion of Abu Ubaidah formed the basis of the Ibadhi view of 'acquisition' (iktisab), i.e. the deeds are God's by creation and man's by acquisition59.